Producing noble gases comprises mixing a gas stream with an auxiliary gas stream containing noble gases before it is supplied to a gas separation unit

摘要

Producing noble gases by separating a gas stream containing an air gas component into its components in a gas separation unit comprises mixing the gas stream with an auxiliary gas stream containing noble gases before it is supplied to the gas separation unit. Independent claims are also included for: (1) apparatus for producing noble gases, comprising a gas separation unit with a gas supply for supplying a gas stream to be separated and devices for recovering noble gases from the separated gas stream, where the gas separation unit comprises a device for separating noble gases from a material containing noble gases and for loading an auxiliary gas stream with the separated noble gases and a device for supplying the auxiliary gas stream to the gas supply of the gas separation unit; and (2) apparatus for producing noble gases, comprising a gas separation unit with a gas supply for supplying a gas stream to be separated and devices for recovering noble gases from the separated gas stream, where the gas separation unit comprises a device for supplying a process gas containing noble gases to the gas supply of the gas separation unit.